Chapter-111
Actually, Kiyoshi Zenin originally wanted to sit on the back of the motorcycle...
After all, since he was younger than Yuki Tsukumo, and he was sitting in the front of the motorcycle, wouldn't that make him her son?
However, Yuki Tsukumo refused Kiyoshi Zenin's request, citing his current physical condition as the reason that he was unable to sit alone in the back row.
She acted almost tyrannically, placing Kiyoshi directly in front of her, and then pressing her entire body against Kiyoshi's back.
Feeling the slightly soft touch behind him, Kiyoshi felt a little uneasy.
However, the next moment, when the sound of the motorcycle almost ripped through his eardrums, the idyllic thought in Kiyoshi Zenin's mind was instantly swept away.
The motorcycle was very loud, and the wind was so strong that he could barely open his eyes.
To reduce wind resistance, Yuki Tsukumo pressed her entire body upwards onto the vehicle, and that thick, warm feeling made Kiyoshi even more disoriented.
He knew he shouldn't be thinking about these things at this time. The reason Yuki Tsukumo did this was simply because he currently appeared to be a boy of about ten years old.
But deep down, he still has the soul of a mature man!
To calm the lingering emotions in his heart, Kiyoshi took a deep breath and slammed his head against the motorcycle.
Despite the slight pain, Kiyoshi Zenin managed to suppress his emotions with great difficulty.
"Was I driving too fast?! I'm sorry! Are you hurt?!"
Yuki Tsukumo drove with one hand, while gently placing the other hand on Kiyoshi's head, her slightly cool palm gently rubbing his slightly red and swollen forehead.
"It's alright! Senior Yuki, you can speed up a bit! The situation on the coast is very critical!"
Upon hearing this, Yuki Tsukumo, who had been covering the Zenin's forehead with her hand, suddenly withdrew it.
She had no doubts or hesitations. After Kiyoshi said those words, only someone who was extremely oblivious to romance would continue to care and comfort her.
The woman's slender fingers left the boy's swollen forehead, and the next moment, they snapped back onto the handlebars like iron clamps. With the roar of the motorcycle, they sped up once again!
"Buzz—Boom!!!"
The motorcycle's rear wheel scraped across the asphalt, leaving two streaks of molten gold! The engine's high-pitched roar even drowned out the distant howling sea breeze!
The car sped along almost touching the ground, and Kiyoshi was pressed hard against the fuel tank by the acceleration, his ribs aching from the pressure. Yuki Tsukumo leaned forward even more, his disheveled blond hair sweeping across his neck like a lion's mane, creating a strange sensation.
At that very moment, on the shore, after noticing the unusual waves, Kento Nanami suddenly stood up and roared at the still somewhat stunned crowd:
"Run! That's a tsunami! Run!"
He didn't mention the huge, strange figure hovering in the depths of the ocean; instead, he anxiously called out to the people in front of him again and again to escape quickly.
Amidst Kento Nanami's almost desperate shouts, some people with a bit of knowledge began to flee.
As the first few people fled quickly, a sense of panic instantly spread across the entire coastline!
People began to retreat into the city in a desperate manner, fleeing for their lives, because everyone knew that at this moment, every step they took into the city would increase their chances of survival!
In this near-primitive escape, all moral constraints were shattered, and even the facade of a romantic relationship was crushed onto the beach...
But it is family love that shines brightest at this time.
As the tide receded, Kento Nanami's parents, being close to the sea, temporarily fell to the back of the crowd.
What's worse is that, because the negative emotions emanating from the surrounding crowd reached their peak at this moment, the Cursed Spirits that had always followed their parents also emerged completely from the shadows.
The amulet given by Zenin Temple Kiyoshi burned fiercely at this moment, but amidst the almost exaggerated wave of negative emotions surrounding it, the effect of the amulet was weakened to an extremely weak degree.
"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! Get out of the way! Don't block my way!"
Kento Nanami's short figure was now moving in the opposite direction from the fleeing crowd.
He was like a sharp sword piercing deep into the crowd, rushing headlong towards the most dangerous place!
Given the physical capabilities of an average child, Nanami would likely be pushed to the ground by the exhausted adults the moment she chose to run in the opposite direction, and then trampled to death on the sand by countless others who followed.
But at this moment, the terrifying Cursed Energy emanating from Nanami caused all the people rushing towards him to instinctively scatter, as if they would be the ones to die if they collided with Nanami!
And so, with the blessing of the spell, Kento Nanami really did pass through most of the crowd and arrived not far from his parents!
Without the crowd obstructing his view, Kento Nanami's eyes instantly filled with bloodshot veins as he watched his parents being dragged by the Cursed Spirits towards the deep sea.
At this moment, a surge of Cursed Energy, which he had unconsciously suppressed for years, erupted from his small body.
"You bastards! Get away from my parents!"
Almost instinctively, Kento Nanami attached his own Cursed Energy to his arm, and the next moment, he rushed towards the Cursed Spirits, his eyes filled with madness.
However, this most basic incantation, coupled with Kento Nanami's body which had never undergone any training, could not actually have much effect on the few Grade 2 or Grade 3 Cursed Spirits in front of him.
At this moment, Nanami's parents, overwhelmed by immense negative emotions, also saw the Cursed Spirits dragging them away.
Seeing her child struggling so desperately, Nanami's mother was already in tears. She almost pleaded with Nanami, shouting:
"Get out of here right now! Mommy begs you! Hurry!"
"Kento! You've always been an obedient child. Dad wants you to go back right now, quick!"
The cries of his parents rang in Nanami's ears. His body was violently slammed to the ground by the Cursed Spirit, but the pain in his heart was far more intense than the physical pain.
At that very moment, a somewhat calm male voice rang in Kento Nanami's ears:
"Kid, you have great parents. Do you want me to help you?"
Chapter-112
The moment that sound rang out, Kento Nanami felt himself being lifted up, his feet leaving the ground as his back slammed against a wall that felt like steel.
He subconsciously looked up and was met with a man's face, sharp and fierce-looking. The scar at the corner of his mouth stood out starkly against his taut jawline, and his furrowed brows and troubled eyes suggested he was preoccupied with some kind of trouble.
"What..." Nanami had barely uttered a syllable when his body suddenly felt light, and he was even lifted up with one hand and thrown hard into the sky!
A feeling of weightlessness instantly enveloped Nanami. A howling wind swept him upwards, his vision rising amidst the violent shaking. He was like a helpless leaf, with no chance to resist.
However, it was this forced descent into the air that allowed him to see the horrifying scene below.
The beach where he had just stood was now pierced by several dark red, slippery giant tentacles! Beneath the sand, a huge, bright red mouth covered with spiraling fangs was writhing and opening and closing frantically, greedily devouring the air.
If he had been a second later, he would have been torn apart by those abyssal maws.
But the man dodged the tentacle attack from underground with a blank expression, then lifted his right leg slightly before slamming it down.
This incredibly simple action, amplified by immense power, could produce effects that would resonate with Kento Nanami for a lifetime.
The moment Toji's right leg landed on top of the monster's head, the yellowish-gray sand instantly turned bright red and dark purple. Minced flesh mixed with bones drew a unique aesthetic of violent slaughter across the entire ground!
Immediately afterward, as Kento Nanami fell, the Cursed Spirits that had been following his parents were all turned into blood mist by a terrifying attack that Nanami could not observe.
The blood of those Cursed Spirits was not uniform in color, so the entire ground, along with some parts of the ocean, was now stained with a somewhat mixed gray.
Toji stood still, holding a bright red three-section staff in his hand.
A Special Grade Cursed Tool worth 500 million yen!
Playful Cloud!
This is a spell weapon whose power is determined solely by the user's physical strength. Therefore, in the hands of Zenin Toji, the "Heavenly Tyrant," Playful Cloud unleashed its full potential.
Kiyoshi Zenin believed that even Satoru Gojo and Sukuna at their peak could not surpass him in terms of physical strength.
In Toji's hands, each swing of Playful Cloud represented the sudden explosion of a Cursed Spirit's body.
Amidst the splattering blood and the horrified gazes of Kento Nanami's parents, Toji reached out his right hand and steadily touched Kento Nanami, who was falling from the sky.
Nanami was still somewhat dazed. She glanced at him, her voice as usual, as if the ongoing rain of Cursed Spirits and blood was not her doing.
"I recognize you, kid. You're the one chatting with that brat Kiyoshi Zenin on the beach, aren't you?"
Hearing Toji's words, Kento Nanami paused for a moment, then subconsciously asked:
"Do you know Kiyoshi Zenin?"
"Well, let's just call him that kid's guardian for now. Since you two have a good relationship, I'll give you a task."
After confirming Kento Nanami's identity, Toji didn't say much. He took a set of car keys from his pocket and tossed them directly to Kento Nanami's father.
"Take them with you, drive that car, and evacuate to a safe area. Remember to be careful while driving, don't scratch it, it's not my car."
At this moment, Kento Nanami's father hurriedly caught the key thrown from the air. He looked at Toji, only to see that Toji had already disappeared from the spot. The only thing he could see was Toji's figure running wildly towards the depths of the ocean, stepping on the sea surface.
"Is something like that really something a human being could do?" Nanami's father murmured to himself, gazing at the figure that appeared both incredibly small and incredibly powerful against the backdrop of the towering waves. His eyes were filled with bewilderment and shock, as if his worldview had been completely overturned.
"Hurry!" Nanami's mother was the first to recover from her shock, her voice trembling with tears and urgency.
As the sea breeze howled, it stirred up salty, fishy vapors and the stench of Cursed Spirit blood. Behind them, the gray-black waves were becoming more violent at a visible speed, surging onto the beach in layers, as if to devour and erase everything that had just happened.
The waves behind us were already quite large; if we stayed where we were now, it would be tantamount to suicide.
Although he was still a little confused about the situation, his instinct as a husband and father made him drag his wife and son toward the black car.
At the same time, Toji felt the sea breeze coming towards him. Because of his high speed, the sea breeze, carrying rain, stung his face.
But he didn't care about these things. Instead, he looked at the huge snake body not far from the sea with some irritation.
As the clouds swayed, they even crushed another wave of deformed tentacles that tried to wrap around his ankles. The filthy liquid exploded at his feet, only to be instantly dispersed by the surging seawater.
His brows furrowed even more, not because of the strain, but because he still hadn't seen that brat, Kiyoshi.
Logically speaking, given the magnitude of the situation here, that brat shouldn't have been delayed any longer.
Could something more urgent have happened than this?
Toji had a slight desire to find Kiyoshi, but he also knew that if Kiyoshi knew that he was going to find him without regard for the safety of this place, he would definitely nag him for a long time.
That kid has that kind of personality, he's such a pain!
I need to clean this place up before I can go find that brat.
Similarly, don't die before I find you, you brat!
He took a deep breath and raised his hand again, shattering the Cursed Spirit that had emerged from the sea.
"Tsk, this is never going to end."
He muttered a curse under his breath, and beneath the murky seawater, a massive, chilling shadow could be vaguely seen slowly writhing.
It wasn't just one or two, but a whole group of dark red venomous snakes!
These venomous snakes kept surging from around the hundreds-of-meters-long giant serpent, and one could even sense that the source of these venomous snakes' Cursed Energy was probably the giant python in the distance.
To truly solve the problem here, he needs to find a way to kill that giant snake.
He weighed the warm, heavy Playful Cloud sword in his hand, which exuded a bloodthirsty desire, and felt the terrifying, seemingly endless power surging within it.
Despite his frustration, a hint of excitement ignited deep within his eyes.
If I can resolve that issue here, that brat Kiyoshi from the Zenin Temple will owe me a huge favor!
He then grinned, and the scar twisted, revealing a slightly ferocious smile.
Chapter-113
When Zenin Monastery Kiyoshi and the Yuki Tsukumo arrived here, the air was thick with blood mist, and the heavy stench was almost solidified.
Countless remnants of Cursed Spirits floated on the sea, their shapes varied, twisted, and broken, turning large swathes of seawater into a murky, viscous dark red.
In the heart of this infernal realm of death and violence, Toji's figure stood out, and appeared particularly disheveled.
He was now supporting himself with both hands on the dark red cloud-shaped object, breathing heavily, each breath causing his strong chest to heave violently.
The clothes she was wearing, which were not particularly nice to begin with, were now torn into strips that barely covered her body.
If you look closely at the top of the cloth strip, you can see the words "Fujiwara Shoten" written on it.
Even though most of his body had abrasions and bruises, very few wounds were deep enough to expose the bone.
But the congealed blood had almost turned him into a blood-soaked figure. The thick, dark red and deep purple blood mostly came from the corpses of the Cursed Spirits floating on the sea beneath his feet.
Even now, he was panting heavily, and the cloud-like object in his hand was already covered with the blood and filth unique to the Cursed Spirit.
"Tsk, kid, and that golden retriever over there...did you crawl over here? You're so slow!"
By the way, you can't hold me accountable for the slow return of the car this time. You owe me a huge favor for what happened here.
Also, the clothes I'm wearing today are my work clothes, which cost 2000 yen. Remember to reimburse me when you get back.
Looking at the Zenin temple's Kiyoshi and Yuki Tsukumo who had just arrived, Toji's expression appeared slightly tired.
Before Kiyoshi could answer, Yuki Tsukumo, looking at the almost exaggerated number of corpses around them, turned to Toji in astonishment and asked:
"You did all of this?"
Toji generally doesn't want to answer such idiotic questions, but he also knew that if he's too lazy to talk to Yuki Tsukumo at this moment, he'll only face more arguments later.
So he sighed and said to the Yuki Tsukumo:
"Could it be that those Cursed Spirits went berserk and started killing each other?"
Hearing Toji's obviously sarcastic reply, Yuki Tsukumo wasn't angry. She simply looked at Toji, clicked her tongue slightly, and then said:
"You really are the second monster I've met today."
Who is the first monster?
"Look, they're still entrenched over there."
"Don't compare others to that kind of thing, you idiotic blonde woman."
Listening to the two bickering, Kiyoshi Zenin felt somewhat helpless.
For some reason, Toji and Yuki Tsukumo seem to be inherently incompatible, and most of the time they are like this, arguing after only a few words.
But now was clearly not the time for arguing. Feeling the slightly restored Cursed Energy within his body, he looked at the two people before him, took a deep breath, and said:
"We need to take care of that guy quickly! Otherwise, once the wave really forms, the death toll in this area will reach an absolutely terrifying level!"
In response to Kiyoshi's words, Toji let out a deep breath, slightly raised the Playful Cloud in his hand, and once again crushed the Cursed Spirit that sprang from the seabed in front of him.
"Kid, I know you're right, but I still haven't fully figured out what that thing's techniques and abilities are. Poison, fire, vibration, weakness... that thing has already shown several abilities so far!"
Kiyoshi's brows furrowed tightly. Without further hesitation, he immediately focused his mind, his consciousness sinking into the depths—
"Hello!"
A chilling, piercing voice, brimming with naked malice and rage, exploded like thunder in Kiyoshi's consciousness space, almost shattering his newly formed mind!
The two-faced Sukuna's four scarlet eyes were fixed on him, their faces filled with undisguised contempt and murderous intent.
"You despicable brat! You resorted to such vile and disgusting methods, and now you dare to stand before me so brazenly? Who... gave you such reckless courage?!"
Before Kiyoshi could regain his composure, Sukuna's somewhat cold and dissatisfied voice rang in his ears. He looked at Kiyoshi with a cold expression on his face.
Kiyoshi Zenin didn't seem to care much about Sukuna's attitude. He simply looked at Sukuna and explained with a slight smile:
Did I violate the contract in what I did?
"What did you say?"
"If I were to break the contract, I would naturally be punished now, but since I am not being punished, it means that my actions have not violated the contract. So, under these circumstances, what reason do I have to be afraid to see you?"
Upon hearing this, Sukuna's Cursed Energy surged, and he looked at Kiyoshi, his icy eyes filled with an almost frozen killing intent.
Do you find it enjoyable to fool me?
Sukuna's expression was cold at this moment. Kiyoshi Zenin looked into the other's eyes, his voice remaining calm:
"I have never thought it was funny to fool you, but I have never thought it was a good thing to let another person use my body."
Besides, our initial agreement didn't seem to specify when we would regain control of our bodies, did it?
Upon hearing Kiyoshi's words, Sukuna was so angry that he laughed instead. Invisible slashes appeared from behind him, as if he would shatter Kiyoshi into countless pieces in the next moment.
"Kid, once you've eaten the rest of your fingers, I'll kill you the moment I regain my physical body."
"I've heard this many times. Now it's your turn to fulfill the contract. Tell me, what kind of abilities does that Yamata no Orochi possess?"
Kiyoshi Zenin didn't really care much about Sukuna, or rather, it was something far in the future. Even if that day ever came, Kiyoshi Zenin was certain that he would have the strength to not be afraid of Sukuna.
Feeling the binding force of the contract, Sukuna's face showed extreme impatience. However, it was also the most irresistible force in the world, so even though he was extremely unwilling, he could only say to Kiyoshi Zenin:
"The Yamata no Orochi is not what you imagine, or rather, the Yamata no Orochi is completely different from the structure of ordinary Cursed Spirits."
Most ordinary Cursed Spirits usually only have two Cursed Energy cores, similar to those of a cursed sorcerer. But Orochi is different. I had already observed this when I fought her. Each of her eight heads has a completely different Cursed Energy core.
This means that Orochi possesses eight life-giving techniques, which are...
Chapter-114
As Sukuna finished speaking, a slightly meaningful smile appeared on her face as she looked at Kiyoshi Zenin:
"Fire, lightning, flood, epidemic, beating, hunger, resentment, isolation."
The origins of these eight life-giving techniques are actually just the concrete manifestations of certain phenomena and calamities experienced by ordinary people during the Heian period.
I know you might be thinking, isn't that volcano-headed Cursed Spirit called the Jogo the very embodiment of "fire"?
But you need to understand one thing here: the fear of nature and the fear of calamity.
In short, you could attribute all of humanity's fear of fire to that volcano-headed Cursed Spirit, but that's not entirely accurate, since the essence of that volcano-headed Cursed Spirit is humanity's fear of the earth.
At this point, Sukuna frowned slightly, a hint of impatience on his face, seemingly dissatisfied with Kiyoshi Zenin's stupidity.
"Kid, I don't have the patience to explain the essential differences to you. You just need to remember that the source of Orochi's [fire] ability is mostly derived from the fear that humans feel when flames burn houses and other objects."
The fear of that volcano-headed Cursed Spirit stems from a fundamental fear of the very nature of fire.
The level of the curse on [Flame] by the Volcano Head Cursed Spirit is higher than that of the [Fire] curse of the Orochi.
Therefore, if you were to compare a single head of the Yamata no Orochi with the Volcano Head Cursed Spirit, it would naturally be far inferior.
However, the reason why Yamata no Orochi was called the "King of Curses" before me was certainly not because of the weak power of its single head.
What's most annoying about that thing is the coordination of her eight heads.
When one head unleashes fire, the other mixes it with toxins, turning it into a highly toxic flame. And when you try to avoid it, it will use the power of lightning to briefly paralyze you...
In short, when fighting Orochi, you should be prepared to fight eight Cursed Spirits that are slightly weaker than the level of Volcano Head at the same time.
The unique life-giving techniques possessed by each of these eight heads were referred to by sorcerers during the Heian period as the "Yamata no Mokujin" (Eight-Headed Calamity God).
But if that's all there is to it, then that guy can't really be called the curse king of that era. After all, besides her, there are also Ootengu, Kidomaru, Nurarihyon, Hagoromo Gitsune... these guys are all barely passable.
What makes Yamata no Orochi so troublesome is actually the [Ama-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi] hidden in its tail. The power of that sword is the foundation of Yamata no Orochi's existence.
Oh, by the way, you little brat, you're a descendant of the Zenin family, so you should know that, right?
Your Zenin family has passed down the Ten Shadows Technique for generations. When you cultivate the last one, you can summon the Eight-Handled Sword Divergent Sila Divine General Mahoraga. Although that guy has never been subdued, you should know some of the secrets about him.
The Mahoraga can adapt to the operating rules of everything in this world, and after adapting, it immediately evolves the ability to break through the opponent's abilities. The Kusanagi Sword at the tail of the Yamata no Orochi is actually somewhat similar to the Mahoraga's ability.
However, the abilities of the Kusanagi Sword are somewhat inferior to those of the Mahoraga. Not only is the adaptation speed relatively slow, but even after adapting, it's difficult to find a solution immediately. But if time drags on, the outcome is essentially decided.
After listening to Sukuna's explanation, Kiyoshi Zenin's face showed a thoughtful expression. He didn't linger in his inner thoughts for long. After smiling at Sukuna, Kiyoshi Zenin tossed a Nintendo game console and then said:
"Thanks, here's the fee for answering your question. This is the latest model; I just found it on the beach. See if you like it."
Having said that, Kiyoshi Zenin did not wait for Sukuna's reply, but disappeared directly into his Innate Domain.
Watching the Zenin Temple Kiyoshi disappear before his eyes, Sukuna's face showed displeasure as he slightly twitched his fingers, about to slice the game console into pieces with a sharp slash.
But looking around...
A plush sofa, an ice-cold can of cola, piles of comic books, a flickering TV screen, scattered snack wrappers...
Well, this is that kid's Innate Domain anyway, and those little gadgets designed by humans are indeed quite interesting, so there's no need to keep forcing myself to stay here.
Sukuna withdrew the slash he was about to unleash, reached out and caught the game console that Kiyoshi Zenin had thrown to him, and then began to ponder it on his own.
Compared to humans a thousand years ago who only knew how to farm and reproduce, modern humans are indeed more interesting.
In the real world, Kiyoshi Zenin quickly relayed the information he had received from Sukuna to Toji and Yuki Tsukumo.
Upon hearing about the other party's abilities, Yuki Tsukumo's face showed a somewhat incredulous expression. She looked at Zenin Kiyoshi, her eyes widening slightly:
"Eight different birth techniques? How is that possible? This goes against all the common knowledge I have about spirit summoning so far!"
"There are many exceptions among humans, for example..."
When Kiyoshi said this, his gaze drifted to Toji, and the meaning behind his words was self-evident.
"Hey, you brat, blonde, don't look at me like I'm some rare animal!"
Yuki Tsukumo was persuaded by Kiyoshi Zenin. She gently touched her smooth chin, then chuckled softly and said:
"That's certainly true. Now that we know the other party's abilities, let's make our move!"
Although he was the "King of Curses" defeated by Sukuna, he was still one of the strongest figures of his era. Fighting such an enemy is truly inexplicably maddening.
Kiyoshi Zenin had a different opinion on what Yuki Tsukumo had said.
He looked at the Yamata no Orochi coiled not far from the group. With the help of his Six Eyes, he could sense that the Yamata no Orochi in front of him was not particularly powerful. Although it was within the Special Grade category, it was far less terrifying than Sukuna had described.
Moreover, its desire to attack the group wasn't even that strong; they had been standing there talking for so long, and it hadn't even launched an attack...
Something's not right, something's very wrong.
Recalling the expression that Orochi had shown when talking to Kenjaku, and thinking about Orochi's resentment towards Sukuna, a very bold idea suddenly sprouted in Kiyoshi Zenin's mind.
If Kenjaku was able to sign Binding Vows with so many ancient Cursed Spirits and ancient sorcerers without knowing the plot or having the help of the succubus system, why can't I?
Chapter-115
I don't know where I was born.
All I know is that as soon as I regained consciousness, the name Yamata no Orochi was firmly etched into my mind.
Strangely enough, I have eight heads, but my consciousness is not confused. In fact, each of those eight heads contains my own consciousness.
It's like controlling eight bodies at the same time; it's fun but also exhausting.
Where I was born, there is no one else besides me.
At first, I couldn't understand why I often felt waves of inexplicable irritability.
It wasn't until I had a conversation with a frail female sorcerer one day that I realized that the indescribable restlessness was actually an emotion called loneliness.
I really liked that female sorcerer, but she was terrified of me. After I forced her to live with me for about twenty days, she died.
It seems they died from the curse I unintentionally released.
Looking at her body, I felt sad and guilty, followed by that familiar feeling of unease.
I know I need to find some companions.
But despite my efforts and various attitudes and approaches, I still haven't found anyone I can talk to.
As I searched for companions, humans also witnessed my body, and they became even more fearful and hateful of my existence.
Among the emotions I've collected, I can clearly identify one thing.
That is, humanity blames all the disasters that have happened on me.
Illness, fire, flood, lightning, poisonous miasma...
They blamed all their suffering and misfortune on me.
I don't know if this is a good thing or a bad thing.
The advantage is that my power is increasing day by day. I can feel that if I want, I can destroy a human city in an instant and crush those so-called sorcerers in an instant.
The downside is that I will never be able to find anyone to talk to again, and everything will fear me, even those beings who are also Cursed Spirits.
They fear me, shun me, and are afraid of me...
Therefore, I abandoned my rejection of loneliness and chose to enter the barrier to absorb the resentment and hatred directed at me.
I am different from those Cursed Spirits. They have an almost instinctive hatred for humans, but I have no feelings for humans.
I even consider humanity as the foundation of my existence, because without human fear and hatred, I might have died long ago.
In those years, humanity fabricated many stories for me, most of which were grotesque.
Kushinada-hime, Susanoo... No matter when, I am always the one who gets killed. Sometimes, I do feel angry about those things.
I will deliberately burn down their houses and flood their villages, following the storyline that humans have created for me...
But I won't kill them, because I know that if I want to continue existing like this, I need humans to provide me with a constant source of fear.
Actually, I don't want to live a boring and lonely life for long, but I think that as long as I live long enough, I will eventually find someone I can befriend.
Just when I thought life would continue peacefully like this, a two-faced man barged into my territory.
That guy was as strong as a monster. After he shattered all six of my heads, I knew I was no match for him.
So I ran away, self-destructed with one of my remaining two heads, and fled my territory.
My core of Cursed Energy has been shattered. I want revenge, and I also want to live.
I don't want to die until I find a true friend.
I experienced all the negative emotions, but before I completely disappeared, I wanted to feel what it's like to be cared for and liked.
After making various inquiries, I found a woman named Kenjaku, who seemed somewhat different from the others.
She didn't show any disgust or aversion towards me; I could sense that she only had deep curiosity about me.
I was very excited at the time, but I couldn't show it because I had read in books about humans that if you show too much emotion at the beginning, the other party may misunderstand you as having ulterior motives.
Therefore, I concealed my admiration for Kenjaku. My cooperation with her was not only to avenge Sukuna, but also to make friends with her.
Unfortunately, my revival plan requires me to slumber for a thousand years, only in this way can I recover my strength more quickly.
Therefore, over these thousand years, Kenjaku and I actually didn't have many opportunities to meet.
Although I didn't spend much time with Kenjaku each time, I always had a good impression of her.
Until this time, when I saw Kenjaku, her gaze towards me became cold and unfamiliar.
I recognize that look; it's the look those bastards gave me a thousand years ago!
Anyone can look at me like that, but not Kenjaku!
I wanted to ask her something, but her subsequent attitude left me utterly hopeless.
She looked down on me and treated me like a stray dog.
Actually, I wasn't angry because I felt humiliated by the other person, but because I knew that when the relationship is unequal, it's impossible for the two people to become friends.
The hopes of a thousand years have all come to naught at this moment.
I was a little unsure of what to do, but due to the contract, I had no choice but to help Kenjaku.
But I don't intend to kill those humans. I just need to scare them and collect enough negative emotions.
If they are all killed, there will be no stable source of Cursed Energy; this is a very simple principle.
But... after I regain my strength and kill that bastard named Sukuna, perhaps I will willingly walk towards death.
This world is absolutely rotten.
Even in this utterly rotten world, there's still no way they're going to let me go.
Looking at the sorcerer charging towards him, Orochi felt utterly exhausted.
She was not in her complete form at the moment, and the Cursed Energy provided by the Jogo was minimal. Faced with the attacks of those three, Orochi quickly found herself in dire straits.
But just as Orochi was about to fall asleep again, a gentle voice suddenly entered her ears.
That was a tone that Orochi had never heard before.
Orochi could also sense the "friendliness" in the other person's heart from those words.
Words, tone, and attitude can all be faked, but this pure "goodwill" that is directly conveyed to the depths of the soul cannot be faked!
Orochi felt a sudden sense of panic as he experienced kindness he had never received since birth.
Chapter-116
Inside the room, when Yuki Tsukumo looked at the small pink snake that was currently perched on Kiyoshi Zenin's head with a peaceful expression, her expression was full of frustration.
"So, you just chatted with Orochi for a bit, and then you became friends with her? And even got her to join our side?!"
After saying these words, Yuki Tsukumo himself found them somewhat laughable.
She recognized every single character here, but when the characters were put together, she couldn't quite understand the meaning of the words.
A hypothetical Special Grade Cursed Spirit, just because of a few words from Zenin-in-origin, willingly became a companion on my side?
She wouldn't even dare to fantasize about such a thing, not even in her dreams.
Even Toji, who was usually quite unserious, clicked his tongue and said to Zenin Master Kiyoshi:
"Tsk, if you were willing to bet on horses, your luck would be pretty good. Let's play a game: ten, seven, twenty-three, which number do you like best?"
Hearing Toji's words, Kiyoshi glanced at him, then said with a helpless expression:
"Don't try to get others to decide the races you bet on today. Didn't you say you'd quit gambling a few days ago? Why are you betting on horses again? And what about Ms. Eri...?"
Before Zenin Monk Kiyoshi could finish speaking, Toji interrupted his rambling:
"I said I've quit, and I mean it. What I asked you earlier was just the checkout counter numbers at the supermarket and convenience store today. Which one do you think would allow me to serve fewer customers at work today?"
"Then twenty-three."
"Why?"
"Choose the longest one out of two short ones."
"What's the secret?"
"That's what my teacher taught me."
I silently memorized this method, and even prepared to use it to make a decision for myself the next time I was hesitant.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Riko walked up to Kiyoshi Zenin with a mixture of curiosity and nervousness. Looking at the small pink snake perched on Zenin's head, she asked curiously:
"May I touch it?"
Kiyoshi Zenin simply smiled and nodded at Riko's request, then said:
"Yes, no problem. Actually, Orochi has a very gentle personality. It was just a misunderstanding with everyone before."
At first, everyone was a little skeptical, but when they saw Orochi rubbing its head against Riko's fingers, they were somewhat relieved.
At the same time, the morning news on television began to play:
"Yesterday, a gas leak and explosion occurred at the Zao Xi Jia restaurant near the entrance of Lianzhi Girls' High School. The gas leak triggered a chain reaction with the gas inside the sewer pipes, causing serious damage to the street. Fortunately, people were evacuated in time and no one was injured or killed."
On the same day, an extremely rare descending tidal current appeared in the waters near Okinawa. According to geological experts, this phenomenon was mainly caused by tidal gravity...
Listening to the television report, Ms. Kuroi covered her mouth and said with slight surprise:
"The words from the Star Religious Group really worked. I didn't expect that they could resolve everything in just one day."
In response, Yuki Tsukumo snorted coldly and said with some resentment:
"Those idiots are only slightly useful in these matters; otherwise, they're a complete hindrance! Also, Kiyoshi, you still need to give an explanation as to why Orochi has become the way it is now."
Yuki Tsukumo herself didn't know why, but after learning that Orochi was a woman, she always felt uneasy and wanted Orochi to be taken off Kiyoshi's head.
However, Kiyoshi Zenin wasn't paying much attention to Yuki Tsukumo's words at the moment. He gently placed the small pink snake on his head onto the table and explained:
"The main body of Orochi is currently asleep. Due to the contract, she cannot directly join our side. She still needs to fulfill her agreement with that person. As for the specific details, including that person's identity, she cannot tell us due to the contract."
As for why she became like this, it's because I could only provide her with too little Cursed Energy. In order to conserve her combat strength for crucial moments, she usually uses this state to minimize her own Cursed Energy needs.
Hearing this, Yuki Tsukumo nodded slightly, but her tightly furrowed brows remained. She looked at Kiyoshi Zenin, her voice tinged with deep worry:
"If that's the case, I'm at ease about your side, but the higher-ups will absolutely not allow such a thing to happen. Although there are examples of people raising Cursed Spirits in the private sector, like that guy."
Yuki Tsukumo pouted and turned her gaze to Toji, who was currently poking Inventory Curse's chubby face.
"There are indeed some Cursed Spirits in this world that don't actually harbor much resentment towards humans, but due to certain events, the higher-ups strictly prohibited such things from happening during the peaceful era."
Even if one wants to raise a Cursed Spirit, it must be below Grade 3. Except for some special birth techniques, anyone who violates this condition will basically be sentenced to death.
But even if you follow this rule, either you or your Cursed Spirit will encounter an accident during a mission, so... you should understand what I mean.
Kiyoshi Zenin naturally understood the deeper meaning behind Yuki Tsukumo's words.
In a place like Okinawa, there wasn't much danger in bringing the Yamata no Orochi with him, but in Tokyo, his actions would be somewhat unsafe. He wasn't sure about the attitude of the higher-ups yet, but before he reached the Special Grade, Kiyoshi Zenin didn't want to break ties with them so soon.
Just like what happened yesterday, without the political power of those at the highest levels, it would likely have caused widespread panic. A surge in negative emotions would have led to a dramatic increase in the production of Cursed Spirits, more unnatural deaths, continued human fear, a continued rise in the number of Cursed Spirits, and a further increase in cases...
If he doesn't want such a negative cycle to occur, then before Kiyoshi finds a solution, he still needs to be cautious about the necessary presence of the higher-ups.
However, these things are not actually the most pressing issues that Zenin Monastery needs to address right now.
The most pressing problem lies within one's own Innate Domain.
Therefore, when Yamata no Orochi is asleep, her soul dwells in her Innate Domain.
At this moment, the place was already terrifyingly cold.
Chapter-117
For Sukuna, from the moment he became conscious, he never imagined that one day he would be living under a low roof with others.
In particular, that guy was a defeated foe with whom he had a blood feud.
I still remember yesterday afternoon, when Kiyoshi led that woman to appear in front of me, what greeted me was that woman's shrill scream that seemed to shatter my entire mental space!
"Sukuna! You bastard, despised by both humans and Cursed Spirits! Today, I will exact revenge here for all the humiliation and suffering I endured a thousand years ago, with interest..."
Before Sukuna could react, Kiyoshi's coughing started.
As Kiyoshi coughed, the originally noisy and piercing shouts immediately fell silent, like a wild duck whose throat had been choked.
"Yagi...do you remember what you promised me?"
Sukuna could detect a faint hint of reproach and helplessness in Zenin-in-ori's voice.
But Sukuna didn't actually think that Kiyoshi Zenin's words alone would be enough to calm Orochi down.
After all, given Orochi's personality, what he did to that woman a thousand years ago could absolutely not be resolved in just a few words from Kiyoshi.
Sukuna remembered how arrogant and proud that woman was when she first met Orochi a thousand years ago.
But this very person had his own six heads severed, and in the end, he had no choice but to blow his own head off and flee like a wild dog.
Even now, thinking about those scenes and images still leaves a lasting impression!
The silence of Orochi before him further convinced Sukuna that the woman had never given up on revenge. The reason she suddenly stopped was probably because she had signed some kind of Binding Vow with Kiyoshi Zenin and was currently weighing the pros and cons, or perhaps looking for loopholes in the contract.
But that's normal. After all, he served as the "King of Curses" for nearly a hundred years. If he lost his desire for revenge just because of a few words from that brat Kiyoshi, that would be abnormal!
Come, Yamata no Orochi, let me see just how much vengeful desire and power you have accumulated over these thousand years!
Don't make me too bored; at least make me feel a little bit entertained!
Thinking of this, Sukuna's expression twisted with excitement, and even the slightly deformed mask on his face began to itch with extreme excitement. (Note: Sukuna's original mask itching is a setting from the Canon.)
But the next moment, Sukuna, who had never been surprised in his thousands of years of life, was completely stunned.
The once arrogant Yamata no Orochi, who had never uttered a sound even after having its six heads chopped off a thousand years ago, who would rather self-destruct than bow down in submission, actually lowered its noble head, the same King of Curses, at the mere words of that brat, Kiyoshi Zenin!
The woman's face was flushed, her voice was weak, and even her words trembled slightly, as if she were very afraid that Kiyoshi would hate her because of this matter.
"Kiyoshi, Kiyoshi-kun! I... I didn't mean to do that! I just couldn't control my emotions! I promise, I promise I'll never do it again! Please, please don't be angry..."
Looking at the idiotic woman in front of him, Sukuna felt a strange and inexplicable sense of absurdity.
Sukuna was not oblivious; he had sensed the same look in Orochi's eyes as he looked at Kiyoshi Zenin.
The two people were named "Yorozu" and "Uraume".
The longing, the admiration, the respect for the other person as if they were a god, and the intense possessiveness as if they wanted to possess the other person as their own property—that look in the eyes that seemed to want to devour the other person and make their flesh and blood inseparable from their own forever—it was all too familiar.
The combined gaze of Uraume and Yorozu is exactly the gaze that Orochi is giving Kiyoshi Zenin at this moment.
Even though Sukuna understood the meaning behind that look, he still couldn't comprehend why Orochi, whose strength far surpassed Kiyoshi's, would give such a weakling such a look.
That kind of expression is clearly the kind of expression that only the weak can have when they have an absolute longing for the strong.
They should be the weak ones, only able to beg for mercy like stray dogs in front of the strong!
But why would Orochi show that expression to Kiyoshi Zenin?!
Sukuna couldn't quite understand. He frowned deeply as he looked at the two people in front of him. He wanted to see how Kiyoshi Zenin would treat Orochi, who was stronger than him but so weak in spirit.
Is it like treating a pet that can be summoned and dismissed at will? Or is it like manipulating and playing with a puppet at will?
Or perhaps they are slaves who are arbitrarily humiliated and disciplined?!
Come on, let me see!
Kiyoshi Zenin, how exactly will you treat this woman?
The next moment, something happened that made Sukuna feel like her worldview was being distorted.
Kiyoshi Zenin smiled slightly and said softly to Orochi:
"It's okay. You've already done a great job. It must have been very hard for you to endure this. I'm sorry, it's my fault that you've had to suffer like this..."
Upon hearing these words, a layer of mist actually filled Orochi's crimson-gold vertical pupils. She didn't speak, but just lowered her head, her shoulders trembling slightly.
After a long silence, her voice, thick with a nasal tone, finally came from her lips, sounding somewhat muffled:
"Kiyoshi-kun, it is clearly me who failed to keep my promise to you, so why, why do you attribute all the problems to yourself?"
Upon hearing this, Kiyoshi Zenin turned around and saw Orochi biting his lip, a blush on his cheeks. The blush was not from shyness, but from a deeper, more profound emotion.
It was a kind of emotional resonance, or the thrill of receiving kindness.
To this, Kiyoshi simply shook his head and said softly in a very ordinary tone:
"Because it was something I asked you to do, and it was a very difficult thing for you. Even if you couldn't do it, I wouldn't blame you. But you did it, and it was to take care of my feelings. So I should feel warm and guilty for your kindness and understanding."
To make such a concession to someone you've only just met, I'm truly... grateful, Orochi.
The next moment, large tears rolled down Orochi's face. Sukuna watched this scene and felt that it was similar to the plot of a TV drama.
I'm horrified!
Chapter-118
It's like watching a TV series when you're tired of playing video games in the evening.
The male and female protagonists meet because of some plots that Sukuna would kill, then they quarrel because of a misunderstanding that Sukuna would be beheaded, and finally they reconcile because of some plots that they should cook!
This damn TV series makes Sukuna feel like she's eaten a huge mouthful of herring mixed with blue cheese, then smeared with dog poop, heated to a semi-sticky consistency, and then shoved straight down her throat.
From that day on, Sukuna vowed that the first thing he would do after he took over the body of that brat Kiyoshi was to kill all the bastards who wrote such terrible scripts.
But today, Sukuna witnessed this scene unfold before his very eyes.
He felt a strange and nauseating feeling welling up inside him, but it was like a morbid revulsion that made Sukuna unwilling to look away. He just wanted to see what other disgusting things these two could come up with.
Unfortunately, Kiyoshi Zenin handed Orochi a tissue and let her wipe herself, after which Orochi's emotions calmed down.
Although she continued to stare intently at Kiyoshi, at least she didn't go berserk or display that strange expression that gave him goosebumps.
After a brief silence, looking at Kiyoshi Zenin and Orochi sitting on the sofa opposite him, Sukuna's face didn't show much expression. He simply gazed at Kiyoshi Zenin, his eyes reflecting the other's face:
"Why did you bring the Yamata no Orochi to me? To have her kill me here? Or have you made some kind of pact with her using my life? Or perhaps you want to obtain something from me through a pact..."
Before Sukuna could finish speaking, he was abruptly interrupted by Orochi!
"Sukuna! You worm with a heart as dark as a maggot, don't try to figure Kiyoshi out with your damned ideas! His only purpose in sending me here was to find me a place where I could nurture my soul!"
As for you, you're nothing but an idiotic monster who annoys and disgusts me!
Compared to your malice and arrogance, Kiyoshi had already made an agreement with me before I even entered his Innate Domain: after seeing you, I should not take action or cause you any trouble!
He even felt guilty towards you for bringing me here without permission, because Kiyoshi felt that he was taking up your living space, but everything here should belong to Kiyoshi, this is his Innate Domain!
He could have completely ignored your feelings, and he could have refused to make those agreements with you at all. But because he was concerned about your feelings, because of someone like you who so readily assumes the worst of people about him, he almost begged me to make so many agreements with you. You bastard, do you even have a brain capable of distinguishing right from wrong?
Or is your head filled with the excrement secreted after eating people? Although the brain and large intestine look similar, I hope you don't use them solely to hold waste!
Orochi's rapid-fire speech left both Kiyoshi and Sukuna stunned.
Sukuna never expected that the extremely arrogant Yamata no Orochi from a thousand years ago, the Yamata no Orochi that didn't say a single word to him even on its deathbed, would utter such vulgar words.
Or perhaps they were surprised by Zenin-in-no-Kei's consideration for his own emotions...
Or it could be both.
Kiyoshi Zenin was taken aback by Orochi's cover-up of him.
Compared to the rest of the world of Jujutsu, Orochi's psychological distortion seems to be even more severe.
Originally, Kiyoshi Zenin had some concerns about Orochi, who did not appear in the Canon. He did not know about Orochi's past or his character. He rashly launched an attack on Orochi based solely on his guess at first glance.
Kiyoshi originally thought it would be quite difficult and complicated.
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But the situation before him made him feel a little wistful.
It's just because of these tiny, insignificant acts of kindness that I was so moved...
In many cases, isn't having wisdom a form of punishment for Cursed Spirits?
Wisdom inevitably leads to thought, and thought inevitably leads to loneliness.
If possible, keeping the Cursed Spirits from seeing the light might actually make them more able to endure the darkness.
Having pondered this, Kiyoshi Zenin's gaze toward Orochi softened. He had developed the idea of seducing Orochi because of the succubus system, but he would never treat each other kindly simply because of the system.
Kiyoshi always believed that only sincere emotional investment could earn a similar response from the other party.
All that can be gained from a false pretense is the sorrow of having the lie exposed.
The appearance of Hanami and Orochi made Kiyoshi unknowingly begin to ponder the future of the Cursed Spirits.
Do we really have to kill all the Cursed Spirits?
What about Cursed Spirits like Hanami and Orochi, who are neutral towards humans?
Just as Zenin Monk was deep in thought, Sukuna's slightly stiff and cold voice interrupted his thoughts:
"This is something that brat should do. It's my duty to live in this world. If it weren't for me, that brat would have died at the hands of that volcano-headed Cursed Spirit long ago!"
This debt of gratitude is so great that even if that brat Kiyoshi were to die right now, it wouldn't be enough! Do you understand this, Yamata no Orochi? Or rather, you should only have a head left now, right? Don't you even want this last head anymore?
As Sukuna spoke, the Cursed Energy on his body surged, and the killing intent bursting from his eyes was almost tangible.
However, Orochi could sense that Sukuna wasn't very confident when he said those words; he probably didn't even believe his own words.
They're talking about saving my life, but it's obvious they didn't want to die here either.
It's just a compromise when interests align. He uses this kind of rhetoric to cover up his true thoughts. When did Sukuna become this kind of person?
Does he not even have the courage to acknowledge the kid's kindness towards him?
How could I have become such a coward?!
Could it be due to the influence of the kid's Innate Domain?!
No, that's not right. That kid is very straightforward about acknowledging other people's kindness.
This is clearly not the influence of that brat.
Is it myself who is changing?!
An indescribable emotion spread through Sukuna's heart!
He's changing!
Chapter-119
Sukuna himself didn't know whether this change was good or bad, but he could clearly understand that the soul in this body, and the souls in the other fingers, had begun to show some changes in their thinking.
Is it because the little devil has completely cut himself off from and closed himself off from the outside world?
Is it that brat Kiyoshi using some kind of technique he doesn't know to alter his thinking?
No, that's not right. Sukuna isn't an idiot; he can sense that unnatural change.
If we rule out these possibilities, there is only one possibility left: that he is truly being changed by Kiyoshi.
Moreover, he was not forced or guided by anyone; it was simply Sukuna's own willingness to change!
After thinking it through, Sukuna felt a bit unsettled.
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In heaven and on earth, I am the only one who reigns supreme.
Live life the way you like, without caring about other people's emotions or life and death, and live only according to your own will.
This is his true form of exorcism!
But aren't these changes now entirely based on his own emotions?
Isn't this also something that he himself decided to change?
If he had actually let that little devil swallow the souls of the other fingers at that moment, would he, now changed, still be able to successfully merge with the other souls?
Or, to put it another way, would you still be willing to be merged with other souls?
Can he still accept the thoughts of the other fragments of his soul?
Thinking of this, Sukuna felt a little irritated. He couldn't help but look at Kiyoshi Zenin with a slightly complicated expression. This damned brat has really given him a huge problem!
I regretted the words I had just said the moment they left my mouth.
He didn't actually have to be so forceful.
Upon hearing this, Orochi raised an eyebrow slightly. Just as she was about to say something more, Kiyoshi Zenin's voice rang out, instantly drawing the attention of both of them.
"I'm sorry, Sukuna. It was wrong of me to bring Orochi here without consulting you. Orochi has already explained the grudge between you and her to me."
Actually, Orochi doesn't hate you as much as you think. When you fought Orochi, you didn't use any underhanded methods. You defeated her head-on with absolute strength, so Orochi doesn't have that kind of life-or-death resentment towards you.
She's just unwilling to accept defeat, unwilling to accept being defeated by you back then. She wants to have another showdown with you later, and then crush you head-on. That's Orochi's plan.
Hearing Kiyoshi Zenin speaking softly to him, and feeling somewhat guilty about his earlier words, Sukuna displayed a reaction that surprised even Orochi.
The Cursed Energy on Sukuna's body dissipated, and the sharp slash that seemed to tear the two people in front of him apart also vanished.
He looked at the Zenin Master Kiyoshi, his voice as calm as ever:
"Since it's your plea, I'll grant you this time, brat. But if the same thing happens again, I'll cut you and the person you brought in into pieces!"
Although Sukuna's words were still impolite, anyone could tell that even if that time really came, Sukuna would not do that.
Orochi didn't know much about Sukuna, but Sukuna, who was like a demon a thousand years ago, would never have said such things here.
Based on my own speculation, Sukuna should have already started killing people by now.
Orochi remained silent in front of Sukuna, and Sukuna also remained silent in front of Orochi.
Kiyoshi Zenin and the other man remained silent, and for a moment he was also somewhat confused about the thoughts of these two who had successively become [King of Curses].
Fortunately, he was too lazy to think about it anymore, and his code was just like that of a novice programmer.
Although it didn't seem like it could function properly at all from start to finish, it was able to run smoothly once it was started.
As long as the two can maintain a superficial balance, then I shouldn't delve any deeper and shatter that hard-won delicate balance.
At this moment, Kiyoshi's choice was quite simple: he stood up and began to divide the rooms into their own.
Although it's a bit strange, Kiyoshi does have a weird feeling right now, like a landlord dividing up space for two unruly tenants.
"Sukuna, if possible, I originally wanted to create another room next to yours, but my soul is not strong enough right now, and maintaining such a space would be difficult for me."
So what I can do is build a smaller, independent space for Orochi, but that would leave Orochi with too little room to move around. Therefore, I would like to discuss whether this living room, which is where we are now, can serve as a shared living space for Orochi and you.
Of course, as compensation, I will try my best to increase the supply of daily necessities so that you and Orochi can live more comfortably. Once I have collected all your fingers and found all of Orochi's revived flesh and blood in that person's hands, I will immediately revive you both.
Kiyoshi Zenin's words were flawless and without any problems. As for Orochi, she was so moved when she heard Kiyoshi Zenin so kindly discussing the matter of her moving in with Sukuna that she continued to bite her lip.
As for Sukuna, driven by the guilt he felt from his previous words, although he was somewhat dissatisfied with Orochi's sudden move in, he couldn't refuse because of Kiyoshi Zenin's sincerity.
In addition, Kiyoshi Zenin said that once his soul power becomes even stronger, he will also try to expand the size of his inner space.
Let's consider it for the sake of my own comfort. Later, I'll teach this little devil some methods to nurture his soul.
As Sukuna pondered this, he spoke coldly to Kiyoshi Zenin:
"Kid, I won't give you much time or patience. Don't keep me waiting too long!"
After saying that, Sukuna closed his eyes and stopped talking.
Seeing this, Kiyoshi Zenin knew that Sukuna had agreed to his request. He turned to Orochi and began to search for and arrange the lifestyle she wanted with her.
However, it's more accurate to say that Kiyoshi organized the entire setup by himself rather than as a group effort.
As for Orochi, she didn't really have any concept of room arrangement.
The place where she lived a thousand years ago was just a relatively large underground cave.
A platform that isn't too rugged for her to perch on is already a decent nest.
Chapter-120
From the size of the room, the wallpaper, the choice of table, the comfort of the bedding set, the type of plush toys, the color of the pajamas...
Everything was chosen by Kiyoshi for Orochi.
Throughout the entire process, Orochi kept looking at Zenin-in-oshiki with starry eyes.
At that moment, she felt like the happiest Cursed Spirit in the world.
Besides her, which other Cursed Spirit can enjoy such treatment?
That two-faced idiot outside doesn't count. That guy isn't even a purebred Cursed Spirit. He's a human, a strangely-looking human.
However, while tidying up his room, Orochi also secretly peeked at Sukuna through the crack in the door.
That guy is completely different from how he was a thousand years ago.
Even now, Orochi cannot recognize that guy slumped on the sofa, legs crossed, playing video games, his eyes occasionally glancing at the TV, his stomach constantly chewing on snacks, as the cursed king from a thousand years ago.
In her newly learned human language, wasn't that state just that of a deadbeat couch potato?!
However, because Kiyoshi Zenin was present at the time, Orochi didn't pay much attention to Sukuna and just kept sticking to Kiyoshi Zenin.
Orochi left a faint part of her soul in the pink snake's body outside, as an anchor point that allowed her to keep her soul awake.
Most of her soul, however, chose to reside and be nurtured within the Innate Domain of Zenin Temple Kiyoshi.
It's not that Kiyoshi Zenin has any special abilities in his Innate Domain; the so-called nurturing is just Orochi using his own methods to repair his soul.
The skill of splitting the soul may seem difficult to others, but for Orochi, who once controlled eight heads at once, it was as easy as eating and drinking.
When Kiyoshi Zenin is in his Innate Domain, Orochi's attention is entirely focused on Kiyoshi Zenin, so there is no conflict between him and Sukuna.
However, this conflict inevitably began to occur after Kiyoshi left.
That's why the atmosphere between them was so cold before.
The reason for their conflict is quite simple: it's not because of old grudges from a thousand years ago, but rather because of new hatred today.
Sukuna is a capricious guy. He likes to listen to the TV at a very loud volume in the living room, but he doesn't watch it; he just uses the TV program sound as background noise.
However, because Kiyoshi didn't consider soundproofing when building Orochi's room, Orochi was always interrupted by Sukuna's damned television sound whenever he tried to nurture his soul.
She had tried to negotiate with Sukuna, but Sukuna's attitude clearly angered her, so the two of them had been in a tense standoff since last night.
If it weren't for the fact that both of them were restraining themselves because of Kiyoshi, they probably would have already turned Kiyoshi's Innate Domain upside down.
Today, when Kiyoshi entered his Innate Domain again, he was overwhelmed by the stiffness and coldness that enveloped him, leaving him feeling utterly exhausted.
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Sukuna looked at Kiyoshi Zenin who had appeared before her, her expression cold, and said nothing. Orochi, on the other hand, looked at Kiyoshi Zenin with resentment and said:
"Kiyoshi-kun! That bespectacled bastard kept the TV on all night with the volume turned up to the maximum. Even though I told him several times, he still insisted on doing it. If this continues, my soul-nurturing process will definitely be affected!"
Before Kiyoshi could answer, Sukuna's slightly sarcastic voice rang out:
"That's really an excuse that the weak always use. When you're not capable enough, you think you can make the environment adapt to you. That's why I cut off six of your heads a thousand years ago and you even had to blow one of your heads up as a way to escape!"
Since you lack the ability to change your environment, what you need to do is adapt to it, not complain to that brat. Even ten thousand years from now, I could still easily sever all your heads!
Hearing Sukuna's words, Orochi didn't feel ashamed or sad as he had expected. She simply looked at Sukuna with a calm and disdainful gaze, and then said:
"Do you think that after I complained to Kiyoshi-kun about this, Kiyoshi-kun will help me change my circumstances?"
I did lose to you a thousand years ago, but that was only because I lacked combat experience and didn't understand your techniques.
If we were to do it again, the outcome between us might not be as clear as you expect.
Finally, I'll tell you something else: after I tell Kiyoshi-kun about this, he will definitely help me change my circumstances!
At this point, Orochi turned his head and looked at Kiyoshi Zenin beside him, his expression one of almost superstitious certainty.
At this moment, Sukuna also looked at Kiyoshi Zenin, his cold gaze seemingly filled with an inquiry that said, "I want to see how you're going to help her change."
Feeling those two completely different gazes, Kiyoshi felt a bit overwhelmed.
After obtaining the Succubus System, he had actually considered the possibility of this situation, but how should I put it, he felt that it would be at least in the later stages, at least when the favorability of those being pursued reached 80 or above, before such a jealous and rivalry [pseudo-Shura field] could possibly occur, right?
What's going on here? Why is this happening so early?!
Fortunately, Kiyoshi had anticipated this situation early on. Although it happened earlier than he expected, dealing with it was not difficult.
The answer is simple: just sit still and maintain your balance.
Even if the problem cannot be solved, you must maintain a balance.
This kind of "pseudo-battleground" is essentially a test of how Kiyoshi ranks the importance of each person vying for his attention.
At such times, absolutely no hint of any order or sequence can be given.
Otherwise, if this situation occurs, he will have to decide the position for all subsequent situations. Those who rank higher will naturally be overjoyed, but what about those who rank lower?
Does Kiyoshi still want to win the other party's favor?
Therefore, in this situation, he only needs to do one thing.
Take care of their feelings and, at this delicate juncture, try your best to find a solution.
Fortunately, the problem at hand is easy to solve. Kiyoshi finds some soundproofing materials in the real world and installs them in Orochi's room.
However, now that this situation has arisen, it's best to be more careful going forward.
I'll be going back to Tokyo soon, according to Masamichi Yaga...